As we are walking. I'm telling Jo how much I care for her. That I don't think I can bear the thought of her leaving when summer is over. Hell, I'd still be a virgin if not for her. Jo looks at me smiles stops walking.
Then says "Oh I don't think you would have been a virgin much longer. Your a great guy. I'm pretty sure that even if I had not pushed Christy a bit to start. She would have made a move on you anyway."
"Right as backward as I was I would have chickened out and ran away like a frightened baby."
"I find that hard to believe."
"It's true your the only reason I have any confidence at all. If a girl even looked at me I thought she was thinking how ugly and dumb I was."
"Dick your not ugly or dumb, naive maybe but far from dumb."
"I don't care if not for you, I would probably been a virgin till I was 21."
She laughs.
"Don't laugh it's true."
"OK, Maybe your right but your not a virgin any more and you have at least one girl who I know would love to be your girl."
"Maybe but Christy is not who I love (pause). It's you I love. There I said it."
Jo smiles "I love you to cuz."
"No I really love you. I'd marry you in a heart beat. I'll love you to the day I die."
"Believe me I love you too. But I don't think your mom and dad or mine would stand for that."
"I don't care. I love you and want to be with you always."
She looks deep into my eyes smiles.
"Me too Dick."
Then kisses me. "You know as well as I do it could never work. But we have the rest of the summer together. We will always be cousins. I sure as hell hope we can see each other as the years pass."
"Your right but still makes me sad just to think about you going home some day."
"Well try not to think about it. Just be happy with the time we have."
"Jo, I can't get over how great you are. Your my best friend, lover and cousin. How could anything be better."
She giggles, "Same here cuz, same here."
She kisses me again, takes my hand. We walk home. Talking how great today was.
At home we eat then watch TV. I don't remember a thing about any show because Jo is all I can think of. Bed time rolls around Jo says she going to bed. We all wish her a good night. Then dad goes to bed. Mom keeps looking at me.
"What?" I say.
"You really like your cousin Jolene don't you?"
"You know it, she great."
She gives me a funny look then says. "I think there's more to it then that."
"What?" Pretending not to understand.
"Richard you know what I mean."
"No not really."
"OK I'll spell it out for you. I think you like your cousin more than what is normal for cousins."
I'm nearly sweating, "Sure I like Jo. But I kind of have a girlfriend at the pool. Jo and I have always been close. We just click. I love her company, ever since grand dad's farm. If we were not cousins she would not pay any attention to me at all, I'm sure."
"Well I just worry about you getting too involved. I would not want to have to tell Kate we have a problem."
"Mom you have nothing to worry about. I promise."
"Ok just keep it that way."
"No problem mom."
I'm freaking out, it seems like mom knows what's going on with Jo and I. As I tell her, I'm going to bed and I love her. I again reaffirm the fact she has nothing to worry about. She smiles tells me good night and she loves me. I head for bed.
I'm in bed just a few minutes. Jo comes in "Like some company?"
I'm not sure if I should tell her about what mom talked to me about. She slides in bed next to me.
"I think I could use some lovin."
"Jo."
"Yes."
"I need to tell you something."
"You sound serious."
"I am, mom asked me about us. Like she knows there is something going on between us."
"Really?"
"Yea she kind of gave me the third degree about us. I told her there is nothing going on. That we are just best friends. But I still think she is not
convinced."